Gerrards Cross Cricket Club News story

Gerrards Cross CC senior teams play in the Thames Valley League. When possible, panel umpires are allocated to matches for Divisions 1–3. But there is a shortage of umpires and this trend has been continuing for a number of years and the situation has become quite serious.

The Thames Valley League have therefore decreed that all Clubs playing in the Thames Valley League must supply a ‘Registered Club Umpire’ from 2019 onwards.

Becoming a fully qualified umpire is a time consuming process and is not for everyone. This is recognised by the ECB and so there is a fast track process which is far less time consuming.

So, this email is to ask those of you who ‘might‘ be interested in becoming an umpire through the fast track process, to get in touch with me. This takes the form of four evening sessions at Penn and Tylers Green Cricket club as follows:

Thursday 7th February – 7.30 to 9.30Thursday 14th February – 7.30 to 9.30Thursday 21st February - 7.30 to 9.30Thursday 28th February – 7.30 to 9.30

By attending the above sessions (NO EXAM INVOLVED) you will be signed-off as an ECB ACO Level 1 Umpire. This is more than sufficient to officiate in a TVL Division 3 match which is where the GXCC 2s play. To be clear, once qualified, there is no obligation or possibly any need to call on your services (to officiate only in games when GXCC is involved) if there are panel umpires available for a TVL Division 3 match. In reality being a ‘Registered Club Umpire‘ is a back up provision and you would only be asked to step in once in a while subject to your availability.

I am going on this course myself but I would like another two volunteers to join me so the umpiring load can be spread.

Please give this some careful thought and I hope you will sign up to the course mentioned above.

If you are interested please contact me as soon as possible on 07771 664658 or email me at richard@eas-ifa.com